San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1887-02-23
THE FIREMEN CELEBRATE.
A Grand Time at Turner Hall-Col. H. B.
Andrews Supper Table Speech.

A Grhnu Time AT turner Hal-COl. h. Is.
Andrews Supper Table Speech.
The fire department OF this city cele-
brated Washington's birthday in true.
old fashioned style by grand ball at
Turner hall last night. About seventy
five flremen and their ladies and guests
were present and TO the strains OF a fine
string band tripped the light fantastic rs
the remaining hours OF Lent wore away.
The early departure OF the ladies after
midnight was ascribed to the arrival OF
the Lenten season, for IL was little az
ter one O'Clock a. IN. when the bali
closed.
However, from nine until twelve.
enough fun WAS crowded into the time
as would satisfy an average mortal, and
at the supper, which was an elegant re-
past, the flow Of line wines was supple
mented with "a short speech by the chief
Of the department. Mr.. G.. A. Duerler,
and an eloquent speech irom that old
fireman OF thirty-six years service, "nOt
at fires, but ut suppers," Colonel II. b.
Andrews, was delivered. As the Col
onel always speaks, 20 was his speech
last night, full Of quiet wit and humor,
not ut the expense Of others, but always
bearing The brunt himself, then divulg-
ing hidden wealth Of powerful ora
tory and beautiful word pictures, and
suddenly turning with al easy sweep to
pathos most sublime and real. lie paid
a tribute to the entire department and
commended them on their noble pur-
pose, not alone Of protection OF prop.
erty, which was so many dollars, but
the granGer purpose Of saving the lives
OF victims Of the fire tiend, the
weakliDg babe as well as the
gray haired totterer. This was
the feeling that had made him
take such lively interest in the fire de-
partment of every city. When young
man. isolated and alone in the city OF
Galveston, the firemen of Galveston
aided and assisted him nobly, and
he had always entertained a high
regard, not only regard, but gratitude
for the friends Of his early days. The
struggle Of the fireman here has been
that OF other cities. First il was small,
then it has grown until today il Is the
finest in the state. The old foreman OF
No. was here tonight, and like true
fireman, had shown that he was not
slow to run to q fire or for an
office. Laughter and cries for Schreiner.)
His tried service had induced his friends
to rally around him and swell his grand
majority He commended companies
No. ] and No. 2 in the highest terms and
beautiful tribute was spoken to the
memory of those firemen who have long
since laid at rest In the grave. Then the
whole department was praised highly,
and the illustriOus Washington was re-
membered In a grand flow of eulOgistio
words. All America should feel q pride
In the celebration of the natal day Of
i'm uyh olfhnnf,h frtt
Of the sublime doctrine that all mankind
was free and equal, without
distinction of race, color or prev
ons condition, yet was first in war,
first in peace and first in the hearts Of
his cOuntrymen.'
The grand tenets OF the American con-
stitutiOn were the best in the world.
All men are equal here. He spoke fur
Their, In this manner, and was frequently
interrupted with such bursts Of ap.
plause as TO drown his stentorian voice,
and finally seated himself amid a storm
of acknowledgement from ladies as well
as gentlemen.
Captain Ed. Braden was next called
for and mounted chair and in his
characteristic way shouted for hurrahs
for Washington, for the San Antonio fire
department, matchmaking the public
stree s.elc., etc, anu atnlu gOOu numOreO
sallies, subsidized with very red face
and satisfied expression. After supper
was over, the younger members re-
turned to the bali room and resumed
dancing, while the older members,
many of whom were members
OF the San Antonio fire department
here in the early days when an
old fashioned hand-pumping engine
would be used at fires, drawn through
The mud by the firemen themselves, in
stead Of horses, repaired to the ante
rooms, and over q social glass, INDUCED
in retrospectiOns and "Reminiscences OF
those early days together.
The committees in charge deserve
great praise for the success OF the cele-
brstion, which Greatly pleased the men,
beers and the dies; more so. in fact,
than would small parade, with lunch
and beer at public garden. The hope
was expressed on all sides, from the
chief down to the hosemen, that here
after, the 22nd would always be oele-
brated as 1t has been this year.